Are we alone? : scientists search for life in space

Select an Action

Title:

Are we alone? : scientists search for life in space

Author:

Skurzynski, Gloria.

ISBN:

9780792269670

9780792265672

Publication Information:

Washington, DC : National Geographic Society, c2004.

Physical Description:

92 p. : col. ill. ; 26 cm.

Contents:

Flying saucers -- Extraterrestrial civilizations -- Nodding at midnight -- A better way to look -- The quest -- It's elemental -- One extreme to another -- Earth to Mars -- Jupiter's icy moons -- Talking to E.T.I.

Subject Term:

Life on other planets.

Geographic Term:

Milky Way.

Summary:

In the jungle of Puerto Rico, next to a giant aluminum telescope bowl, we meet astronomers Peter Backus and Jill Tarter of the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) program. This research program is determined to find evidence of extraterrestrial life by searching for its radio signals.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Stillwater Public Library	J 576.839 SKU	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Could there really be life beyond Earth? Readers visit scientists the world over who ambitiously seek to answer that question. Through a combination of captivating narrative and scientific facts, author Gloria Skurzynski skillfully demonstrates how the quest for extraterrestrial life is real, widespread, and growing.

Author Notes

Author Gloria Skurzynski was born in Duquesne, Pennsylvania in 1930. She was educated at Carlow University. She writes both fiction and non-fiction books for children and young adults.She is the author of more than sixty books for young readers. In 1992, her work Almost the Real Thing: Simulation in Your High-Tech World won the American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award. She writes the National Geographic National Parks series and the Virtual War Chronologs series.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (1)

Horn Book Review

(Intermediate, Middle School) Skurzynski cleanly separates what is scientifically possible from what is fantasy regarding life beyond our planet, then examines the many different disciplines that can help us answer questions about extraterrestrial life. While the author thoroughly describes the work of the well-known SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) Institute, it is her discussion of research in the fields of planetary geology, astronomy, exobiology, and mathematics that makes the book unique. Profiled scientists in these areas (who explain their childhood interest in science in text boxes) are searching for planets in distant solar systems, looking for evidence of life on Mars or Europa (one of Jupiter's moons), examining the extreme conditions under which life exists on Earth, and considering what it means to be alive or intelligent. Skurzynski skillfully navigates the tricky terminology from multiple disciplines by using technical jargon in an understandable yet rigorous manner. The well-placed color photographs and illustrations are important tools in helping readers to understand the science -- or scientific imaginings -- of the featured researchers. A bibliography, glossary, list of quote sources, and an index further enhance the presentation. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Available:*

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (1)

Horn Book Review

Helpful Links

Research Links

Contact

Events and Rooms

Follow Us

Today's Hours